Veyra's fingers closed around the second gene-seed, its energy surging through her like a tidal wave.
The guardian roared, its tendrils lashing out, but Veyra was ready.
Her body moved with a precision she'd never known, dodging the creature's attacks with ease. The gene-seed's power coursed through her, sharpening her reflexes, heightening her senses.
She could see every movement, every twitch of the guardian's form, as if time itself had slowed.She leaped back, putting distance between her and the creature. The guardian's claws slashed through the air, but Veyra was already moving, circling the cavern.
She needed to find a weak point—something to exploit. The crystals on the walls pulsed in time with the guardian's movements, and Veyra realized they were connected. If she could destroy the crystals, she might weaken the creature.
She focused her energy, her hands glowing brighter. She aimed at the nearest crystal and fired a burst of light, the impact shattering the crystal into a thousand pieces.
The guardian let out a pained screech, its form flickering. Veyra grinned—she'd found its weakness. She moved quickly, targeting the other crystals, each one exploding in a shower of shards. The guardian's movements grew sluggish, its tendrils drooping.
But it wasn't done yet. The creature let out a final roar, its body collapsing into a mass of liquid shadow. The shadow surged toward Veyra, a wave of darkness that threatened to engulf her.
She raised her hands, summoning a shield of light, but the shadow was too strong. It broke through, wrapping around her, pulling her into its depths. Veyra's vision darkened, and the last thing she heard was the gene-seed's voice, whispering, "Survive."
She woke with a gasp, her body aching, the second gene-seed still clutched in her hand. She was in a different part of the cavern, the guardian gone, its shadowy remains pooling on the ground. The crystals were dim now, their light extinguished.
Veyra's hands trembled as she examined the new gene-seed. Its energy felt different—sharper, more focused. She could feel it merging with the first seed's power, her body adapting, evolving.Her leg burned where the guardian's claw had grazed her, but the pain was duller now, the gene-seed's energy healing her wounds. She stood, her legs shaky but stronger than before.
The cavern had multiple exits, and Veyra chose the one with the faintest light, hoping it would lead her deeper into the labyrinth. She didn't know what the gene-seeds were doing to her, but she knew one thing: she couldn't let the Gene Lords find her.She moved cautiously, her senses on high alert. The tunnel was narrow, the air thick with moisture.
Water dripped from the ceiling, pooling on the ground, and Veyra's boots splashed as she walked. The gene-seeds in her pack pulsed in unison, their warmth a constant reminder of the power she now carried. She didn't know what she was becoming, but she knew she couldn't go back to being just a scavenger. Not anymore.The tunnel began to slope upward, and Veyra slowed, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
She needed to rest, to think, but every second she stopped was a second the Gene Lords could use to catch up. She found a small alcove in the tunnel wall and sank into it, pulling her knees to her chest. Her hands were still glowing faintly, the light casting eerie shadows on the rock. She had to keep moving—but for now, she needed a moment to process what had just happened.